Snap fastener



H. J. REITER SNAP FASTENER March 1S, 1941.

Filed April 5, 1940 je j Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i sNAr FAsrENEa Harold J. Reiter, Chicago, Ill. Application anni s, 1940, serial'No. 327,969`

The invention relates to improvements in separable snap fasteners and more particularly to structurally improved socket and stud members. Y

An object ofA the invention is to provide improved male and female snap fastener elements with integral tangs arranged to -pierce the material to which the elements are attachedhthe tangs being located thereon so as to be wholly concealed when the elements are mounted.

Another object is to provide male and female snap fastener elements r with integral piercing tangs arranged inwardly of their circumferential margin whereby said elements present a smooth unbroken reinforced periphery.

Another object is to provide male and female snap fastener elements with means integral therewith arranged to pass through the material on which the elements'are mounted and interlockingly engage in and be clinched by associated attaching elements.

Another object is to provide an attaching element of a type having a channel therein arranged to receive tangs and means to direct 25 such tangs into said channel. i

Another object is to provide an eilcient inexpensively constructed reinforced snap fastener embodying simple readily attached elements.`

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specification; in which reference is had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal central sectional view of the snap fastener.

Fig. 2 is a plane view of the rear or tanged face of the socket element. m Fig. 3 is an inverted plane viewk of the stud element showing the tangs thereon. Y

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central sectional view through a modified form of socket element.v

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing another modification.

All reference numerals used herein identify corresponding parts in the drawing.

Referring particularly to the form of snap fastener illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, such 50 snap fastener includes male and female members II and I2. Said members are secured respective.-

ly, to separate complemental portions of fabric.

leather or other suitable material I3 and are arranged to detachably interlock to hold said por- 55 tions together.

' ange or breast portion I1.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the male member Il consists of a circular stud element I4 and an attaching element I5. The stud element I4 is formed integral preferably from a thin'circular sheet of metal. A substantially cylindrical wall 5 defines thebody or stud portion I6 which is formed by striking or drawing the metal of the sheet upwardly. The stud portion preferably is closed at its top and its cylindrical wall bows outwardly and then tapers inwardly downwardly 10 and finally outwardly to merge with a circular The flange I'Ilies ina substantially horizontal plane and its outer circumferential margin is turned downwardly and then inwardlyagainst the bottom Vface ofsaid flange to provide `an integral reinforcing `ring I8 and a smooth rolled circumferential outside edge I9 on the stud element. A plurality of pointed tangs 2| are formed integral with the free inner circumferential edge of the ring i8.

These tangs preferably are spacedapart circumferentially and extend downwardly substantially at right angles to the plane of the flange I1.

To mount a male member, its stud element I4 is placed over one face of the material I3 with 25 its body or stud I6 disposed away from said material. The pointed tangs 2l are then forced through the material until the circumferential ring I8 rests upon the face thereof. The attaching element I5, which may take the form of an internally channelled ring of sheet metal, is' placed in axial alignment with the s tud'element against the other face of the material I3 prior to the piercing operation.' As best. shown inFig. 1, one circular wall 22 of the attaching element 3" I5 is inclined inwardly and upwardly towards the bottom face of thematerial I-3 so as to present a. gradually curved surface which is contactedby the free ends of the tangs 2I when the latter are initially pressed downwardly'thereaga-inst. Continued pressure causes the tangs to curl-'or roll outwardly radially over said curved surface into the circumferential channel 23 of said attaching Y element. Y 45 Although the mounting operation may be ac- Ycomplishedby hand, it preferably is effected by the use of a suitable press and as the limit of the pressing stroke is approached the upper circular wall 24 of the channelled attaching ele- 50 ment I5 is pressed downwardly to clinch the curled ends of the tangs tightly within the channel. This prevents separation of the male and attaching elements and clamps the material securely therebetween. As attached, the tangs are wholly concealed from view due to their being spaced inwardly from the circumferential margin of the stud element Il.

It is apparent that the tangs 2| cannot flint 5 bedriventhroughthematerialandthencarefully fitted into the channelled attaching element Il. Accordingly. the annular entrance slot 25, defined by the inner circumferential edges of the curved wall l2 and the upper circular wall 24 l0 of said attaching element, is considerably wider than the thickness of the metalforming the tangs. nsequently. whether the circle defined'by the pointed ends of the circumferentially spaced tanga 2i is under or over size said tangs will always 1s pass freely through the annular slot and engage the curved surface of the wall 22. It should be observedthatthe curvatureofthewall22is 1substantially uniform throughout its width so as tocause theendof thetangs alwaystoco gg an outwardly sloping surface.` and buckling The female memberrl2 preferably consists' of a circular socket element 2l and an' attaching element or cap 21. The socket element 2t gs also preferably is formed from a thin circular sheet of metal having its body or center portion struck or drawn out ofthe plane `thereof and suitably rolled to provide an internally channelled socket wall 2l. il split resilient ring'2l 434| iscarriedinthe'channelledsocketwalltopro- `cularfiangi'slisturnedupwardly and inwardly smootlx'rolled outer edge on the flange. pluralitlof pointed piercing tanga 23 are go'formed free inner edge of the ring 22 at right angles To member. the socket element 2l is placedover'onc face of the material se ls witnits'tangs ss in contact therewith. when ed; areforced through material and'polnted ends curl outwardly i I .nciauyinto an'inwarciy opening circumferential channel 24 formed in the attachingelement 21. .g1 The attaching elementor cap 21 illustrated. pref- -crablyisformedofathincircularsheet ofmetal,

oorrugation or ridge Il on its inside face spaced the rolled v over marginal flange definingv the channel-summum asanatnefree linneredgeofthechannelnangeconstitutethe v"'10 innerandouteredgcsofanannularentranceslot .t1.tbroughwhich'thetangl22passwhen the elementsare assembled. Duringthe assembly operationtheoutwardlyandupwardlyinclined.

surface formed by the outer surface-ofthe tl is initially contacted by,

ntact anda the pointed ends of the tanga, consequently said tanga-always curl outwardly radially into the channel Il.

It should be apparent that either the cap 21 orthechanneiledringilmaybeusedasan 5 attaching element for either of the male or female'fastener elements shown. and that the diiferent attaching elements are illustrated for the purpose of disclosure. It also is evident that the improved fastener members are notreadily 1 damaged andare not liable to tear or pull through the fabric to which theyare attached. These advantageous features are primarily afforded by the presence of the integral reinforcing ringsvon the circumferential margins of the nangeaLThc rings stiffen the anges;` consequently said flanges are not bent or otherwise distorted readily and the rolled-edge prevents cutting through the fabric and the resulting pulling out of the fastener member. 2 Y

Fig. '4 shows a socket element 20a constructed substantially like'that illustrated in Fig. i exceptthatinthisinstancethestudreceiving socket consists of a cylindrical wall 28a extending downwardly from the upper inner end of a u downwardly 'and outwardly circular kflange or'breast portion tia. The lower free edgeofsaidsocketwallisrolledinwardlyto provideastud engaging liporbeadtl. Thecylindricalwallllaissuitably slit at oneor more n pointe` inwardly from lits beaded free end to delinea plurality of resilient fingers adapted toyield`when a stud iaadmitted or withdrawn therefrom. Inthis'structure,theiiangeorbreast .portiontlaalsoextendstoapointinadvancecf n orbelowthebeadedendofthscylindricalsocket wall 2in to afford suitable protection therefor.

. auf!V its joute! df'cllmfelentill margin-"is rolled t2 may,afterbeingpressedthrcughthematerial.

beengagedeitherbythecapn orthe attaching ring i-l,andsaid tangs aisoare coneealedwhen., the fastener member is mounted.` Reinforcing ribs 23a preferably arestruck in said tang! to 4| reinforce and prevent unwarranted bending or buckling thereof. j

The socket illustrated in Pig. 5 is substantially like that shown inv Fig. 1 except that it has no re,-

inforcing ring on its circumferential edge f and Il,

the piercing tanga 38 extend substantially at f right anglesto the flat face of the circular flange Although exemplary forms of construction have beeninumatec ancdneribeditntobeunder- Il stood that the disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive and that theinvention is not to be limited thereby but is to embrace such variations as will fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Asnap fastener socket installation comprising,fin combination, a socket element made from a single piece of sheet material and having an annular internally channelled socket wall, a split u ring in said channel,` a circular flange integral with and extending downwardly and outwardly plane below the plane of the lower end of the 7 said wall, the free circumferential edge portion of being folded upwardly and inwardly to provide a orcing ring lying against the top surface of'saidmarginal portion, and a edge of said reinforcing ring and extending upwardly substantially at right angles thereto: a sheet of supporting material disposed 'over the socket element with the tanga extending therethrough; and an attaching element disposed over said material having an inwardly opening circumferential channel to receive said tangs, said attaching element having its bottom face shaped to conform substantially to the top surface contour of the socket element and including means to deflect the free ends of the tangs outwardly into said channel when the two elements are pressed together.

2. A snap fastener installation comprising; a`

socket element having a stud receiving socket, a circular flange integral with the upper end of said socket extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom and terminating in a ilat marginal portion disposed in a plane below the lower end of said socket, the free circumferential edge p0rtion of said margin being folded upwardly and inwardly to provide a reinforcing ring lying against the top surface of said marginal portion, a plurality of piercing tangs on the inner circumferential edge of said ring adapted to extend through a sheet of material against one face of which the socket element is disposed, and an attaching element on the other face of said material to receive said tangs; and cooperating with said socket element a stud element including a stud with a contracted neck received in said socket, a flat circular ilange extending from one end of said stud and disposed to be engaged by the bottom surface of the ilat marginal portion of the socket element, said flange having its outer marginal edge folded downwardly and inwardly to define an annular reinforcing ring arranged to lie against the bottom face of said ilange, a plurality of piercing tangs on the inner edge of said ring adapted to extend through a related sheet of material against one face of which the socket element is disposed, and an attaching element on the other i'aoe of the related sheet of material to receive said tangs, said iiat marginal portion, circular nange and reinforcing rings forming a'short cylingdtrilal laminated wall protecting the socket and 3. A one piece snap fastener socket element comprising, in combination, a cylindrical wall, an internal flange on the lower end of said wall. said internal flange and wall having a plurality of slitsv therein to provide resilient stud engaging lingers, an external flange integral with and extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper end of said wall and having its outer marginal portion disposed in a plane parallel to and below the plane of the flanged,l lower end of said wall, said external flange having its outer circumferential edge folded upwardly and inwardly to define a reinforcing ring lying against the top surface of said marginal portion, and a plurality of pierc-V ing tanga integral with the free inner edge of said ring and extending upwardly substantially at right angles thereto.

4. A one-piece snap fastener socket element comprising, in combination, a substantially cylindrical socket wall, an internal flange on the lower end of said wall, said flange and wall havlng a plurality of slits therein to provide resilient stud engaging nngers, an external circular ange integral with and extending downwardly and thence outwardly from the upper end of said wall and having its outer marginal portion disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the flanged lower end of said wall, and a plurality of piercing tangs integral with and spaced inwardly `from the outside circumferential edge of said marginal portion, said tangs extending upwardly substantially at right angles to the plane of said marginal portion and terminating above the plane ofthe top of the socket wall,

5. 'A snap fastener socket element comprising, in combination, a stud receiving resilient socket, a circular flange integral with and extending downwardly and outward from the upper end of the socket and having its free end disposed in a plane below the plane of the lower end of said socket, the outer circumferential margin of said flange being folded upwardly'and inwardly to lie against the top surface of said flange, and a plurality of piercing tanga integral with the free inner edge of said folded margin and extending upwardly substantially at right angles thereto.

Y HAROLD JVREI'IER. 

